casuistry: Meaning and Definition of

cas•u•ist•ry

Pronunciation: (kazh'-u-strē), [key]
— pl. -ries.
  1. specious, deceptive, or oversubtle reasoning, esp. in questions of morality; fallacious or dishonest application of general principles; sophistry.
  2. the application of general ethical principles to particular cases of conscience or conduct.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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